American English

A
aerial (radio/TV) antenna
American football football
anorak parka
articulated lorry trailer truck/semi trailer
aubergine eggplant
autumn fall
B
bank holiday legal holiday
bank note bill
bap hamburger bun
bat (ping pong) paddle
bath bathtub
bath (v.) bathe
bathroom bathroom/restroom/washroom
big dipper roller coaster
bill check (restaurant)
bill/account account
billion = million million billion = thousand million
biscuit (sweet) cookie
black or white?(coffee) with or without?
blackleg/scab scab
black treacle molasses
blind (window) shade
block of flats apartment house
block of flats apartment building
blue jeans dungarees/jeans
bomb (success) bomb (disaster)
bonnet (car) hood
book (v.) make reservation
boot (car) trunk
bootlace/shoelace shoestring
bowler/hard hat derby
braces suspenders
break (school) recess
briefs/underpants shorts/jockey shorts
broad bean lima bean
bureau de change currency exchange
butter muslin/cheese cloth cheese cloth
C
candyfloss cotton candy
caravan trailer
caretaker/porter janitor
car park parking lot
catapult slingshot
cattle grid Texas gate
centre (city/business) downtown
central reservation median strip/divider
chairman (business) president
chemist druggist
chemist’s shop pharmacy/drugstore
chest of drawers dresser/bureau
chips French fries
cinema movie house/theater
class/form (school) grade
cloakroom check room
cloakroom attendant hat check girl
clothes peg clothes pin
conscription draf
contraceptive/condom rubber
convoy caravan
cooker stove
corn flour corn starch
corporation/local authority city/municipal government
cot/crib crib
cotton thread
cotton reel spool
cotton wool cotton batting
courgette zucchini
court shoe pump
cream cracker soda cracker
crisps chips/potato chips
cul-de-sac dead end
cupboard closet
curtains drapes
D
desiccated (coconut) shredded
director (company) manager
directory enquiries information assistance
directory enquiries directory assistance
district precinct
diversion detour
drain (indoors) sewer pipe
draper drygoods store
draught excluder weather stripping
draughts checkers
drawing pin thumb tack
dressing-gown bathrobe
dual carriageway divided highway
dummy pacifier
dungarees overalls
dustbin/bin garbage can/trash can
dynamo generator
E
eiderdown comforter
state agent realtor
estate car station wagon
F
fair (fun) carnival
filling station / petrol gas station
station
film movie
first floor second floor
fish slice spatula/egg lifer
fitted carpet wall to wall carpet
flannel wash cloth
flat apartment
flex electric cord/wire
fly-over overpass
football/soccer soccer
fortnight two weeks
foyer lobby/foyer
full stop (punctuation) period
funny bone crazy bone
G
gallery (theatre) balcony
gangway aisle
gaol jail
garden yard
gear lever gear shif
giddy dizzy
give a bell(to phone) give a buzz
goods truck (railway) freight truck
goose pimples goose bumps
gramophone/record player phonograph/record player
greenfingers green thumb
grill (v.) broil
guard (railway) conductor
gym shoes/plimsolls sneakers/tennis shoes
tennis shoes/trainers sneakers/tennis shoes
H
hair grip/kirby grip bobbie pin
handbag purse/pocket book
hardware housewares
headmaster/mistress principal
hire purchase installment plan
holiday vacation
homely (=pleasant) homely (=ugly)
hoover (n.) vacuum cleaner
hoover (v.) vacuum
housing estate sub-division
I
ice/sorbet sherbet
iced lolly popsicle
icing sugar powdered sugar
icing sugar confectioner’s sugar
identification parade line-up
immersion heater(electric) water heater
interval intermission
ironmonger hardware store
J
jab (injection) shot
joint (meat) roast
jug pitcher
jumper/sweater/pullover sweater/pullover
K
kiosk/box (telephone) telephone booth
kipper smoked herring
knickers (girl’s) underwear/panties
knock up (tennis) warm up
knock up (call from sleep) in American slang this
means to get a woman pregnant
L
label tag
larder pantry
lavatory/toilet/w.c./loo john/bathroom/washroom
lay-by pull-off
leader editorial
(leading article in
newspaper)
leader(1st violin in concert master
orchestra)
lef luggage office baggage room
let lease/rent
level crossing (railway) grade crossing
lif elevator
limited (company) incorporated
lodger roomer
lorry truck
lost property lost and found
M
mackintosh raincoat
made to measure custom made
managing director/MD general manager
marrow squash
methylated spirits denatured alcohol
mileometer odometer
motorway freeway/throughway
motorway super highway
N
nappy diaper
neat (drink) straight
net curtains sheers/under drapes
newsagent news dealer/news stand
nought zero
noughts and crosses tic-tac-toe
number plate license plate
O
off license/wine merchant liquor store
oven cloth/gloves pot holder/oven mitt
overtake (vehicle) pass
P
pack (of cards) deck
packed lunch sack lunch/bag lunch
panel beater body shop
pants (boy’s underwear) shorts/underwear
paraffin kerosene
parcel package
pavement/footpath sidewalk
personal call person-to-person call
petrol gas/gasoline
pillar box/letter box mail box
plaster/elastoplast bandaid
point/power point/socket outlet/socket
post mail
postal code zip code
postman mailman/postman
postponement raincheck
pram baby carriage/baby buggy
prison penitentiary
public convenience bathroom/restroom/washroom
public school private school
pudding dessert
purse change purse
pushchair stroller
put down/entered(goods) bought/charged
put through (telephone) connect
Q
queue (n.) line
queue (v.) stand in line/line up
R
rasher (bacon) slice
reception (hotel) front desk
receptionist desk clerk
return ticket round trip ticket
reverse charges call collect
reversing lights back up lights
ring up/phone call/phone
roof/hood (car) top
roundabout (road) traffic circle
rubber eraser
rubbish garbage/trash
S
saloon car sedan
scribbling pad/block scratch pad
sellotape scotch tape
semi-detached duplex
semolina cream of wheat
shattered exhausted
shop assistant sales clerk/sales girl
sideboard buffet
sideboards (hair) sideburns
silencer (car) muffler
single ticket one way ticket
sitting room living room
living room living room
lounge living room
drawing room living room
skipping rope jump rope
skirting board baseboard
sledge/toboggan sled
smalls (washing) underwear
sofa davenport/couch
solicitor lawyer/attorney
sorbet sherbet
spanner monkey wrench
spirits (drink) liquor
spring onion scallion/green onion
staff (academic) faculty
stalls (theatre) orchestra seats
stand (for public office) run
standard lamp floor lamp
state school public school
sellotape adhesive tape
stone (fruit) pit
sultana raisin
surgery(doctor’s/dentist’s) office
surgical spirit rubbing alcohol
suspender belt garter belt
suspenders garters
swede turnip/rutabaga
sweet corn corn
sweet shop/confectioner candy store
sweets/chocolate candy
Swiss roll jelly roll
T
tadpole pollywog
tap faucet
teat (baby’s bottle) nipple
tea trolley tea cart
telegram wire
telephone box phone booth
term academic (3 in a year) semester(2 in a
year)
tights pantyhose
time-table schedule
tin can
tip (n. and v.) dump
torch flashlight
traffic lights stop lights
traffic lights traffic signals
traffic lights stop signals
trousers pants/slacks
truncheon (police) night stick
 trunk call/long distance long distance call
tube/underground subway
turnover sales/revenue
turn-ups (trousers) cuffs (pants)
U
undergraduates: undergraduates:
- 1st year - freshman
- 2nd year - sophomore
- 3rd year - junior
- 4th year - senior
unit trust mutual fund

In and around the House

I watch the telly whilst lying on the settee.

Whilst is used in British English. It is another word for while

British English American English

The Toilet / Loo / The John / Bathroom / Restroom
Bog / WC / Visiting the little boys (little
girl's room).
Bathroom - the room where the bath is. If you asked us for the bathroom we
will think you want to have a bath!
Tap Faucet
Garden Backyard / Yard
Cupboard Closet
Wardrobe Closet
Curtains Drapes
Net curtains Sheers/under drapes
Bin / Dust Bin Trash Can
Telephone / Blower / Phone Telephone
Television / Box / Telly/ TV TV / Television
Cooker e.g. gas cooker, electric cooker Range or Stove
Couch / Sofa / Settee Sofa
Hand Basin / Sink Sink
Run the bath Fill the tub
Bath Bath tub
Bath (v.) Bathe
Wireless / Radio Radio
Clothes peg Clothes pin
Sitting room Living room
Living room Living room
Lounge Living room
Drawing room Living room
Sofa Davenport/couch

Buildings / Shops

British English American English

Semi-Detached House Duplex
Block of flats Apartment house
Block of flats Apartment building
First floor Second floor
Terrace (row of houses joined) Town House
Chemist Drug Store / Druggist
Surgery Doctor's office
Cafe / Caff (not 24 hrs) Diner
Ironmonger Hardware store
Bungalow House (one story)
Ranch House
Newsagent News dealer/news stand
Off license/wine merchant Liquor store
Bureau de change Currency exchange
Bill Check (restaurant)

At School
"Stop mucking around and get on with your work,"
shouted the teacher to two students who were off task.

British English American English

Friend / Mate Friend
Rubber Eraser
Maths Math
Public School Private School
State School Public School
Holiday Vacation
Packed lunch Sack lunch/bag lunch
School dinner Hot Lunch
Staff Room Teachers Lounge
Plimsolls Gym Shoes
"Mucking Around" / Off Task Off Task / Fooling Around /
"Goofing Off"
Play Time / Break Time Recess
Open Day / Open Evening Open House
Marking Scheme Grading Scheme
Drawing pins pushpins or thumbtacks
Headmaster/mistress Principal
Headteacher
Caretaker/porter Janitor

On the Road
In the UK, we drive slowly over sleeping policemen.
Are we afraid of waking them up?

British English American English

Dual carriageway Divided highway
Sleeping Policeman / Speed bump
speed bump
Car park Parking Lot
Car Journey / drive Road Trip
Zebra Crossing / Cross Walk
Pedestrian Crossing
Lollipop Man or Lady Crossing Guard
Motorway Freeway/throughway
Motorway Super highway
Traffic Jam / Tailback Traffic Jam
Lorry Truck
Articulated Lorry Tractor Trailer /
Trailer Truck
Estate car Station wagon
Petrol Gas / Gasoline
Pavement Sidewalk
Petrol Station Gas Station
Skip Dumpster
Diversion Detour
Lay-by Pull-off
Cul-de-sac Dead end
Roundabout (road) Traffic circle
Fly-over Overpass
Fire Engine Fire Truck
Phone Box Telephone Booth
Overtake (vehicle) Pass
Convoy Caravan
Caravan Trailer

Parts of a Car

British English American English

Bonnet Hood
Windscreen Windshield
Boot Trunk
Reversing lights Back-up lights
Number plate License plate
Gear lever Gear shift
Exhaust pipe Tail pipe / Muffler

Sport

British English American English

Football Soccer

Rounders Baseball
 Bat (table tennis) Paddle (ping pong)

Back to the Top

Other Words

British English American English

Torch Flashlight

Plaster Band-Aid

Autumn Fall

Bank Holiday National Holiday

Lif Elevator

Queue Stand in a Line

There's a queue. There's a line.

Quid (slang for pound) Bucks

Trodden on Stepped on

I'm knackered I'm Beat

Kip / sleep sleep

Nick steal

Starkers / naked Naked

Come round Come over

Off you go Go ahead

It's gone off It's spoiled

Lady bird Lady bug

British English American English

Scone Biscuit

Fairy Cake Cup Cake

Courgette Zucchini

Sweets Candy

Sausage / Banger Sausage

Crisps Chips
Chips French Fries
(French Fries in McDonald's)

Starter Appetizer

Puddings / Afers / Dessert / Dessert

Sweets

Jacket Potato / Baked Potato Baked Potato

Jam Jelly or Jam

Jelly (a dessert in the UK) Jell-o (flavoured gelatin)

Aubergine Eggplant

Sandwich / Butty / Sarny Sandwich

Ice lolly Popsicle

Bill (at restaurant) check

Grill (oven grill) Broil (oven broil)

Food / Grub / Nosh Food

Rasher A slice of bacon

Eggy bread (fried) French Toast

Runner beans Green beans

broad bean lima bean

Soldiers Finger sized slices of toast.

(We dip soldiers in our sof boiled eggs)

bap hamburger bun

Take-away Take out

biscuit (sweet) cookie

corn flour corn starch

desiccated (coconut) shredded

icing sugar powdered sugar

icing sugar confectioner’s sugar

kipper smoked herring

marrow squash

semolina cream of wheat

sorbet sherbet

Swiss roll jelly roll

black treacle molasses

 black or white?(coffee) with or without?

candyfloss cotton candy

Flapjacks in England are oats mixed with honey and/or golden syrup and baked then
cut into slices. sometimes raisins are added to the mixture.

Clothes
In the UK, we would be embarrassed if people saw our pants. why?

British English American English

Trousers Pants

Pants / Underwear / Knickers Underwear / panties

briefs/underpants shorts/jockey shorts

Jumper / Pullover / Sweater / Sweater

Jersey

Pinafore Dress Jumper

Vest Undershirt

Waistcoat Vest

Wellington Boots / Wellies Galoshes

Mac (slang for Macintosh) Rain Coat

Plimsolls Gym Shoes

Trainers Sneakers

Braces Suspenders

Suspenders Holds up stockings

Dressing Gown Robe

Nappy Diaper

Pinny / Apron Apron

Polo Neck Turtle Neck

Dressing Gown Bath Robe

Swimming costume / Cozzy Bathing Suit

Dungarees Overalls

dressing-gown bathrobe

bootlace/shoelace shoestring
bowler/hard hat derby